The Arab League has called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria, and urged the Syrian regime to respect the Syrian people's aspirations for political and social reforms.

In a statement issued early on August 28 after an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the Arab League countries in Egypt, the Arab League said its Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi plans to travel to Damascus to deliver "an initiative to solve the crisis."

No details were given about the initiative to resolve the conflict between President Bashar al-Assad's regime and demonstrators who have been protesting his rule.

In their statement, the Arab League ministers expressed "grave concern" over the Syrian bloodshed, and said Syria's stability was crucial to the stability of the Arab world and the Middle East region.

The statement called for respect for "the right of the Syrian people to live in security," and to respect "their legitimate aspirations for political and social reforms."

UN officials say more than 2,000 people have been killed in the Syrian regime's crackdown on protests that began in mid-March.